The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed a plea that sought re-polling in six villages of Pudukkottai district. These villages had not participated in the elections due to a boycott announced by residents demanding their annexation with the Tirumayam Assembly constituency.
Court's Observation
The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, observed that no one had prevented the residents of these villages from exercising their franchise during the election. The court noted that the boycott was a voluntary decision by the villagers themselves.
Plea Dismissed as Not Maintainable
The bench dismissed the plea as not maintainable, stating that there was no legal basis for ordering re-polling. The court emphasized that the election process was conducted without any obstruction, and the residents' choice to abstain from voting did not constitute grounds for re-polling.
The petition had been filed by a resident of one of the villages, arguing that the boycott was a protest against the lack of annexation. However, the court found no merit in the argument, as the election authorities had fulfilled their duties.
This decision reinforces the principle that voluntary boycotts do not invalidate an election, and re-polling cannot be ordered unless there is evidence of coercion or prevention of voting.
